R. Morris - A Razor Wrapped in Silk

‘You are quite insistent on that detail, I see.’

‘Does it not signify his guilt?’

‘It’s true, things do not look good for Captain Mizinchikov.’ Porfiry once again split open Virginsky’s notebook and turned the pages, as if looking for confirmation of something. ‘That is his rank, is it not?’

‘I believe so.’

Porfiry closed the notebook and looked up. ‘So you did know him before? You put in your statement that he is an officer of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. You must have known that much about him.’

Bakhmutov considered a moment before answering: ‘Yes.’

‘Another friend?’

‘An associate.’

‘An interesting distinction. Do you mean to say you had business dealings with Captain Mizinchikov?’

Bakhmutov gave a heavy, reluctant nod, as if it cost him a great deal to do so.

‘May I ask, what is the nature of your business?’

‘I am a financier.’

‘A money-lender.’

‘Do you mean to be offensive?’

‘Certainly not. Do you not lend money?’

‘I raise money for companies and individuals, on a somewhat larger scale than is suggested by money-lender .’

‘You had lent Captain Mizinchikov money?’

Bakhmutov gave a noise which could have been of assent.

‘How much money?’

‘I cannot remember.’

‘The debt was an old one?’

Bakhmutov regarded Porfiry with a look of weary contempt. ‘No.’

‘I see. But, presumably, given that you do not lend money on a small scale, it was for a considerable amount of money.’

‘Presumably.’

‘You must indeed be a very wealthy man, Ivan Iakovich.’

‘I, or rather my bank, lends money to a great number of clients. The details are kept at the bank’s headquarters. I do not have the figures to hand now. Naturally. I do not go about armed with my bank’s book-keeping ledgers.’

‘Do you remember why Captain Mizinchikov needed the money?’

‘I do not inquire into those aspects of my clients’ affairs.’

Porfiry widened his eyes sceptically, then blinked flutteringly as if to say, ‘Now, come come …

‘Presumably,’ Bakhmutov conceded, ‘as is quite common with Guards officers, he found his salary was unequal to his expenses.’

‘Presumably. A pity there was not an older and wiser friend to advise him, in a fatherly way, about the need to moderate his habits and modify his expenditure.’

‘In my experience, such cosy chats serve little purpose. When a man is set upon his own destruction, there is little one can do to prevent it.’

‘So one may as well finance it?’

Bakhmutov eyed Porfiry narrowly. He seemed to be about to say something but thought better of it.

Porfiry’s face was serious as he studied the glowing tip of his cigarette. ‘What was Captain Mizinchikov’s particular weakness? Gambling?’

‘Women. Or rather, a woman. She will not torment him any more. He has made sure of that.’

‘Yelena Filippovna?’

‘Yes.’

‘Had you lent her money?’

‘I … no.’

‘You seem unsure.’

‘I have never lent Yelena Filippovna a single kopek.’

‘Do you expect that Captain Mizinchikov will be able to repay his debt?’

‘ Lena is dead! ’ Bakhmutov shouted out his refrain. ‘What do I care about his debt now?’

‘You do not expect him to.’

Shockingly, Bakhmutov laughed. It was a harsh, cynical sound, mirth without compassion.

‘Presumably he has collateral?’ pressed Porfiry.

‘He stands to inherit a tidy fortune. However, I know his father. In his dotage, he has become a very moral gentleman. Do you not often find it is so? He was once as dashing a rake as his son. But now, as death approaches, the old man has rather gone in for religion. And morality.’ Bakhmutov said the words almost distastefully. ‘He will not wish the estate to go to a murderer, especially if it will only be used to pay off the costs of his dissolution.’

‘To whom will the Mizinchikov fortune go if Captain Mizinchikov is cut out of the will?’

‘There is a cousin, a nephew of Mizinchikov’s father. But I have never met him. He resides in Moscow, I believe. He would be the next in line.’

‘From what you are saying, Mizinchikov would not seek refuge with his father?’

‘Certainly not.’

‘What about this cousin?’

‘I could not say.’

‘Is there anyone to whom Mizinchikov might reasonably present himself for protection?’

Bakhmutov turned to Virginsky. ‘Why is he looking at me in that way?’

Virginsky considered his answer for some time. At last he said: ‘It is important that we find Mizinchikov.’

‘Of course! But I find his insinuations insulting. What have I to do with this sordid crime? It was merely an accident that I saw Mizinchikov when I did. It could just have easily been someone else. I wish now that …’ Bakhmutov broke off and licked around his teeth as if to clean away an unpleasant taste.

‘What do you wish? Now?’ Porfiry’s tone was distracted. He once again had Virginsky’s notebook open and was skimming through its pages.

‘Nothing. It doesn’t matter.’

‘There is no explanation in your statement … if we may call it a statement … no explanation as to why you were not in the theatre. Were you not enjoying the show?’

‘The behaviour of the audience was appalling. I was going to warn Yelena Filippovna, to advise her against going on.’

‘I see. You are very protective of her.’

‘Naturally. She is my friend. I have her best interests at heart.’

‘What time was this by the way?’

‘Some time after eight o’clock, I believe. I remember looking at my watch at about eight o’clock.’

Porfiry closed the notebook and looked up. ‘You walked out of the performance?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did anyone see you leave the theatre?’

‘I really cannot say what others did or did not see.’

‘Very good. I like that in a witness. It is very meticulous. You were here with friends?’

‘Yes.’

‘Presumably your friends noticed your absence?’

‘One would like to think so.’

‘May I have their names?’

‘Why? They have nothing to do with any of this.’

‘Even so, I would like to speak to them. Perhaps one of them will be able to shed some light on Captain Mizinchikov’s whereabouts.’

‘I shared a box with my private secretary, Ardalion Gavrilovich Velchaninov.’

‘We have met that gentleman already.’

‘And with my friend and business associate, Baron von Lembke.’

‘The industrialist?’

‘Yes. He is also on the board of my bank. I am of course on the friendliest of terms with Prince Nikolai Naryskin, our host for the evening, as well as with his son, Prince Sergei. They were not, however, in my party tonight.’

‘Of course.’

‘Other friends of mine who attended include Count Dmitri Tolstoy …’

‘Count Tolstoy is here?’

‘And Tsarevich Alexander.’

‘The Tsarevich too! My goodness. You did not tell me you had taken a statement from the Tsarevich, Pavel Pavlovich!’

Consternation tightened Virginsky’s brow. ‘I did not. Nor from Count Tolstoy. They were not among the witnesses I interviewed.’

‘How strange,’ said Porfiry. ‘They must have made their exit before Prince Naryskin sealed his doors. Or perhaps the good prince felt it his loyal duty to spare them the tedium of an investigation.’

‘I am also on the very best of terms with the Tsar himself,’ put in Bakhmutov.

‘Heavens! The Tsar was here?’

‘No, no. That is not what I said. I merely wished you to understand that I count the Tsar amongst my friends.’